Court of Trial Protocol Established by the Chief High Court Judge and the Chief District Court Judge for Category 2 and 3 s Pursuant to 66 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 This protocol identifies cases and classes of cases which must always be considered for transfer to the High Court in accordance with section 66 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011. It is the obligation of the prosecution to identify cases falling within the protocol. The protocol has been developed following consultation between the Chief High Court Judge and the Chief District Court Judge. The provisions of this protocol may be revised from time to time. This protocol comes into force on 29 May 2017, and replaces the previous protocol published in a Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette, 29 January 2016, Issue No. 8, Notice No. 2016-go286. It applies to proceedings commenced on or after 29 May 2017. Class 1: Cases involving the following offences Crimes Act 1961 69(3) s 93, 94 97 98AA(1) 98A 98C 98D 104 105 105C 105D 105E 105F s 108, 109 113 115 116 117 179 182 183(1) 208* 208 209 235(a) Aiding and abetting crime outside New Zealand Piratical acts Accessory after the fact to piracy Dealing in people under 18 for sexual exploitation, removal of body parts or engagement in forced labour Participation in organised criminal group Smuggling migrants Trafficking in people by means of coercion or deception Corruption and bribery of law enforcement officer Corruption and bribery of official Bribery of foreign public official Bribery outside New Zealand of foreign public official Corruption of foreign public officials Trading in influence Perjury, where charge relates to proceedings that were held in the High Court Fabricating evidence, where charge relates to proceedings that were held in the High Court Conspiring to bring false accusation, where charge relates to proceedings that were held in the High Court Conspiring to defeat justice, where charge relates to proceedings that were held in the High Court Corrupting juries and witnesses, where charge relates to proceedings that were held in the High Court Aiding and abetting suicide Killing unborn child Procuring abortion Abduction of woman or girl Abduction for purposes of marriage or sexual connection Kidnapping Aggravated robbery causing grievous bodily harm 1
236(1)(a) 238(1) 270 298A 298B 301 Causing grievous bodily harm with intent to rob Extortion by certain threats Endangering transport Causing disease or sickness in animals Contaminating food, crops, water or other products Wrecking 307A Threats of harm to people or property * as it read before 20 May 2005 as it read before 1 October 2003 Companies Act 1993 377 False statements Customs and Excise Act 1996 209(1A) Knowingly concerned in any importation or exportation or removal of an objectionable publication Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 244 264 269 510 511 512 Criminal liability for insider conduct Criminal liability for false or misleading statement or information Criminal liability for false or misleading appearance of trading Knowingly or recklessly contravening prohibition in section 82 on offers where there has been defective disclosure in the PDS or register entry Knowingly or recklessly contravening any other provisions relating to defective disclosure General offending involving knowingly making false or misleading statements Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993 124(1) 131A(1) s involving knowledge relating to objectionable publications Possession of objectionable publication with knowledge Prostitution Reform Act 2003 16 Inducing or compelling persons to provide commercial sexual services or earnings from prostitution Secret Commissions Act 1910 3 4 Gifts to agent without consent of principal Acceptance of such gifts by an agent 2
5 6 7 8 9 Duty of agent to disclose pecuniary interest in contract Giving false receipt, invoice etc, to an agent Delivery of false receipt, etc, to principal Receiving secret reward for procuring contracts Aiding and abetting offences Takeovers Act 1993 44C False or misleading statement or information Class 2: Cases involving offences with the following features Crimes Act 1961 s 128 to 129 Sexual violation where: a. there are two or more complainants; or b. there are two or more defendants; or c. the complainant is under 16 at the time of the offending; or d. the complainant is otherwise vulnerable; or e. the alleged offending occurred in the course of a home invasion; or f. the alleged offending involved significant violence over and above that inherent in the act of sexual violation; or g. if found guilty, the defendant would face a likelihood of preventive detention. 188(1) Causing grievous bodily harm where: a. there are two or more complainants; or b. there are two or more defendants; or c. the complainant is vulnerable by reason of age or disability or otherwise; or d. the injury was grave; or e. there was a serious risk to life. 235(c) Aggravated robbery where: a. the proceeds or potential proceeds of the robbery are substantial (for example a bank robbery); or b. the offending creates serious risk to life including where it involves the use of a loaded firearm; or c. it is part of a pattern of offending. 236(1)(b) Assault with intent to rob where: a. the proceeds or potential proceeds of the robbery are substantial; or b. the offending creates serious risk to life; or c. it is part of a pattern of offending. 3
s 237, 238 Blackmail where: a. there are multiple complainants; or b. the complainant is a public official; or c. a threat of serious risk to life is involved. 267 Arson where: a. multiple instances of arson are charged; or b. there was a serious risk to life; or c. the resulting damage is of significant value; or d. a building of national significance was damaged. Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 6 Dealing with controlled drugs where the charge relates to a Class A controlled drug and either: 10 Aiding offences against corresponding law of another country where the charge relates to dealing in a Class A controlled drug and either: 12C Commission of offences outside New Zealand where the charge relates to dealing in a Class A controlled drug and either: Class 3: Cases (involving category 2 or 3 offences) with any of the following features a. s of dishonesty involving more than $1,000,000. b. A difficult issue of law is likely to be involved, or a prosecution for the offence is rare or novel. c. Public concern about the alleged offending. d. Conviction would lead to a likelihood of preventive detention being imposed. e. The offence charged is a repealed offence similar in nature to those offences in Class 1. f. The offence charged is a repealed offence similar in nature to those offences in Class 2 and the offending features one of the relevant aggravating factors highlighted there. g. The offence charged is a category 2 offence which, because of the complexity of the issues involved or the public concern connected with the offending, should be considered for transfer to the High Court. 4
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